Honey collection in mustard fields has become blessings for many grassroots farmers in Khulna division as it has changed their fortunes, helping them to earn more money to lead a happy and prosperous life.
Many farmers were seen passing busy times with honey harvesting during the flowering stage of the mustard plants.
Talking to BSS, Additional Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Khulna Zone, Mohon Kumar Ghosh said, in FY of 2023-24, a total of 35,825 hectares of land have been cultivated for mustard farming in four districts of Khulna agricultural region during this Robi season.
He said the honey collectors got huge honey as the farmers of the district cultivated mustard on extensive land this year. As a result, the target of honey production has already been exceeded though the collection of honey has not been completed yet.
He however, said, that a production target of 59,759 kilograms (KGs) of honey has been fixed from this mustard field. Due to favourable weather production of honey has already exceeded the target as 67,265 KGs of honey has been collected.
A total of 9,626 bee boxes were supposed to be set up for honey collection whereas 10,746 have been set up by 146 beekeepers in four districts of the Khulna agricultural zone this season, Mohon Kumar Ghosh said, adding that the highest 63,930 KGs of honey was collected from Satkhira which was followed by 3,335 KGs from Narail in the division.
Mustard has been cultivated in 2,314 hectares of land in Khulna district and seven bee boxes are placed and the honey collection target was fixed at 22 KGs. In Bagerhat, 15 boxes were installed and the honey production target was fixed at 27 KGs, he said.
Farmers in this region have become financially solvent and changed their fortunes by earning more money from honey farming, he added.